Follow-up prompt from valiantdefenderoftheearth: "The DoctorRose AU you just wrote in response to my prompt was so lovely that I want to know what happens next! Would you consider another untimed prompt for the adventure they have where the TARDIS landed at the end of that story? :)"
Beta: Scullywolf
The Doctor and Rose Tyler walked out of the TARDIS together, hand in hand. This in itself wasn't anything new, hardly noteworthy. The look he gave her when she studied their surroundings, as if his delight were dependent on her, had been present more often than not since they'd started traveling together.
She grinned at him, a bit of tongue visible, and his eyes darted to her mouth. He stepped closer to her, leaning in slowly, brushing his lips against hers, then pressing them more firmly, lingering a moment before stepping back.
"That's new," said Rose, smiling up at him.
He beamed and made a happy noise at the back of his throat, then turned and led her away from the TARDIS, their hands still linked. "Kissing Rose Tyler," he said. "I think we should start every new adventure that way."
"Okay," she said, still smiling. "So where are we, Doctor?"
"We're on Flor'kliat, about a hundred years before their industrial revolution, by the look of things. They expand quickly after developing the proper tools, and from where we areā¦." He looked around, tongue curled to touch his top teeth. "Ha! C'mon, Rose, this way." He grinned, eyes sparkling, and together they ran.
Rose laughed. The wind that blew the hair around her face smelled vaguely of berries, and it was exhilarating dodging the loosely-packed trees that surrounded them. The sun slipped through the red-tinted leaves, casting an orange glow over the woods. The trees thinned further, and the Doctor spun suddenly, taking a few steps backward to slow their speed before catching her in his arms, spinning her once and then setting her down again and kissing her gently, leaving her unsure of whether she was dizzy from the movement or from his actions.
They smiled against each other's lips for a moment, then twined fingers together once more, continuing their trek at a more leisurely pace.
"Where are we going, then?" asked Rose, catching her breath.
"Well, as I said, at this time, the planet's inhabitants don't have the proper equipment for expanding their cities. If I'm not mistaken," he said, tilting his head to listen, "we're in a section of the planet they've not even been able to reach yet. They'll reach this area in, oh, say, two hundred years. But," he paused, and Rose could hear an indistinct noise growing louder, "when they reach where we're headed, they build around it, leaving it intact, a sort of natural centerpiece to one of the most popular tourist destinations in this quadrant."
Rose listened. She heard a rushing noise, wind through leaves or water against rock, neither completely unexpected in the middle of the wilderness. There was a second noise with it, musical, almost a chime. It grew louder, the Doctor's grin growing with the sound, and they picked up their pace slightly.
The trees cleared, and Rose gasped. In front of them was a waterfall gushing from a large hill, falling into a small pond that then trickled away in a creek. The waterfall sparkled, reflecting dozens of colors, and music was audible over the roar of water.
They got closer, and the Doctor stopped, releasing Rose's hand and stepping behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist. Rose covered his hands with hers and leaned back against him. He tilted his head forward so he could speak in her ear, be heard without yelling.
"Along the hill, underneath the waterfall, is a series of chambers made of a rock that's much, much more durable than diamond. It's clear, which is what gives the water the ability to reflect far more color than your typical waterfall, even more colors than the human eye can register. The chambers create music as the liquid rushes past, different tones in various seasons, depending on the water level. Because of the nature of the rock, it continues to do this for as long as there's running water. It's unique, the only natural occurrence of this kind, though, of course, man-made replications do pop up as it grows in popularity. For now, though, there's just the one."
He rested his chin on her shoulder, his cheek against hers.
"And we're the first ones to see it?" she asked.
"Yup."
Rose rested her head against his upper chest, closing her eyes. She listened to the water-made music, felt the Doctor's hearts beating against her back, the skin of his hands under her palms.
"Never thought I'd be able to see things like this," she said, opening her eyes again. "Traveling with you, I get to see so much. Thank you."
"Thank you," he answered, voice rough, almost too low to catch. "Being able to see things with you makes them so much better than they could ever be on my own." He swallowed, opened his mouth to speak again, then closed it.
A smile played at Rose's lips. "Better with two, yeah?"
He turned his face so she could feel his smile curve slowly against her cheek.
"Yeah."
